Like this:

19 Responses to “Dream: Worship, Not Tears”

Amen! That is beautiful, Marianne… Thank you for this post, you are so talented in expressing the Lord’s ways! Certainly, I have found myself asking the Lord to lift me up when I seem to be dwelling in sadness, disappointments , etc, etc.. Never want to be there or dwell there, but have at times, it IS the enemy & it feels rotten!! It takes diligent prayer, faith, & trust in Him for sure. Worship is God connecting & being present in our lives, how joyful is that?! And, amazing things, like miracles & answered prayers can happen… When we bless the Lord, He will bless us. Peace and joy to all who love Him!

How true the cycle of tears of sadness giving way to praising God giving way to tears of joy giving way to worship. And the depth of commitment one goes from praise to worship. There have been many times when I have been in the wells of despair and I would have some inner experience or something around me has more meaning than it appears on the outside. In those moments I realized it wasn’t I thinking of God, but God thinking of me, until I can stand again. (i.e. “Footprints In the Sand” poem experience.)

It is also interesting that you have used the symbols of our “authority”, and “shadows” giving way to the light in your last couple of articles posted here on your site.

“If we stay too long, we lose our strength and authority.
Psalm 91 states:
He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Thank you for this wonderful post, Marianne. Thank the Lord for you. ❤ This was a timely post much needed. Lately, I've been overwhelmed by extremes; religiosity vs. liberalism, wanting to live for Christ vs. wanting to enjoy pleasure, desiring to do work vs. selfish ambition, etc. The more I thought about these things, the more overwhelmed and anxious I felt, like something was desperately wrong with me, for either wanting to have pleasure or for loving God so much I gave way to anxiety and works-based religion; to the point that I wanted to simply give up and condemn myself to hell by renouncing Christ. "It would be much easier," I thought, though my heart knew it was wrong.

Then God gave me a weapon: Praising Him, and loving Him and His people, instead of myself; giving thanks in whatever situation I am in, for all I have is given by Him. Indeed, praising God and loving God is a weapon. Giving thanks can even be used against sorrow, pain, pride, and shame. All glory to Him!

Thanks to Him, it's become easier to navigate between extremes. It's still difficult, but I have His peace. And I've learnt that, Christ is sufficient – both to save and to give joy.

Wow so touching and thought provoking about a week ago I had been mourning and sulking on the relationship with my sis and crying and miserable about how my life was going to be difficult financially. I went to church and worshipped God and prayed and became joyful again. And not going to church yesterday I see that I began to feel despair again and now I realize even more so the importance of being in God’s presence and worship and fellowship so much more. Thank you Lord for your guidance and message, and thank you Marianne for sharing it

(Psalms 32:8-10) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. {9} Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. {10} Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

Thank you Marianne, for a word spoken in season to me. The Habakuk quote does it for me at present. Everything seems to fail. People owing me fail to remit when Im in need last two months. I would aptly say Im pressed on all sides.

But I would also add, Im not forsaken of Yahweh. For amidst all the trial and trouble, my children haven gone hungry, or without shelter. Im do not owe anyone, not in debt, although many owe me. And whereas they may not pay, Im living one day at a time with my Saviour. I guess that is just about what is required of us.

It’s in the original article under the heading “Worship – the bridge to recovery”. You say joy is helpful but the author says required. I’ve heard for years we need to worship even when we don’t feel like it. And even in the midst of turmoil, David often lamented but ended by declaring that he would yet praise the Lord. Even Paul said at one point that he despaired of life and wrote letters to the Churches in which the content showed that they weren’t always joyous. And we know sometimes we weep but joy comes in the morning. I’ve personally experienced this on many occasions. And have run across some “super Christians” who say they were immediately filled with joy and became perfect in their actions, and if we’re not joyous then we’re not really saved.

My thoughts on this has been that while we may not feel joyous, we can still have joy on the inside because we know our eternal destiny.

I wonder if that’s the author’s intent. It’s just stated in a way that had me questioning if they thought those going through very hard times, or seriously ill, etc. had to be joyous, or they weren’t able to praise God.

I hadn’t thought it may just be the wording that maybe didn’t express the viewpoint very well until you said it was helpful.